Pool-table



No. 620,026. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. D. A. FLETCHER.

POOL TABLE.

(Application filed Nov. 10, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 620,026. Patented Feb. 2|, I899. D. A. FLETCHER.

POOL T'ABLE.

(Applicati on filed Nov. 10, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Gui/1%. v:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL A. FLETCHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

POOL-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,026, dated February21, 1899. Application filed November 10, 1898. Serial No. 696,101. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. FLETCHER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool-Tables;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pool-tables of the typehavingan inclined surface with a number of pins thereon and a number ofopenings arranged at various points among said pins and into which aball may roll when rolled upon the table and deflected in variousdirections by coming in contact with the said pins.

The object of the present invention is to make the game more interestingby improving the table to such an extent as to make it more difficultfor the ball to enter the said openings and to provide means forpreventing noise due to the movement of the balls in contact with thepins and their dropping through the openings in the table.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table having myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the table. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveView of the under side of the table. Fig. 4 is an,enlarged view of aportion of the table surrounding one of the openings or traps. Fig. 5 isa section on the line m 00 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of theunder side of the table and one of the traps.

In the description similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts.

The tableAhas two alleys B B, out of which the balls are impelled by theplayers similar to the manner of impelling a billiard-ball. O designatesa ball which is rolled in such manner onto the table.

D designates a number of metallic pins projected from the table and'incased in rubber tubes or other sound-deadening material. E designatescircular openings in said table and of a diameter sufficient to permit aball to fall therethrough should it roll onto any of the trap-doors F,which normally close said openings from the under side of the table. Theopenings E are of two diameters, as shown in Fig. 5, in order to let thetrap-doors F enter them and move down and out of said openings when aball rolls onto said traps. The smallest or top diameter F is filled up,as shown in Fig. 4, when the trap-door enters the opening, and the uppersurface of said door lies on a plane with the upper surface of the tableor as far as it can go. The larger diameter F admits of the door movingin an are when being lowered or opened under the weight of a ball orwhen being closed under the weight I.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the traps or doors each consist of a circularblock the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the diameter F ofthe opening. Each of these circular blocks has a number or numbersindicating the number of points made by a player who causes a ball toenter such trap. The block F is fixed to an oblong piece H, which has arubber teat H on its upper side that comes against the under side of thetable when the trap-door is closed under the weight of the gravity-pieceI. This prevents any noise. The weight I, attached to the arm I, issecured to the piece H and causes the trap-door to remain normallyclosed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In order to obtain a proper entry ofthe doors F into the openings, it is necessary to connect the pieces Hin a mannerto enable them to close in a parallel position with thetable. This is done by providing a block J, which is the same thicknessas the larger end of the piece H. The said block J is secured to theunder side of the table, and the piece H is connected thereto by a hingeG. L designates pieces of sound-deadening material secured to the underside of the table. When the trap-doors are lowered by a ball rollingthereon, the weights I come in contact with these pieces L, and therebyall annoyingsound is obviated. The teats H deaden the sound when thesaid trap-doors are closed under the weights I, and the parts L deadenthe sound when said traps are opened.

The pins D, as before stated, are inclosed in rubber, so as to preventany noise due to "the balls coming in contact therewith. The

lower end of the table is provided with a series of pockets M, which arelined with sounddeadening material, as is also the top of the table, sothat the rolling ball causes no annoyance that might be due to noise.

As before stated, each trap-door is numbered, a ball rolling in any ofwhich or in any of the pockets M counts as many points as the value ofthe figures or numbers indicated.

I do not claim the game as my invention nor do I claim the generalconstruction of the table; but

What I claim is- 1. In a table of the character described, thecombination with the table A having a series of circular openings E thediameters of said openings being less near the upper surface of thetable than elsewhere, of a series of trapdoors F conforming to theshapes of said openings, and of such diameters as to enable them toenter the smallest diameters of said openings and to lie flush with thetop of the table, oblong shanks H extending from said doors F,projections on the lower side of the table to which said shanks arehinged and whereby said shanks are enabled to lie normally in a planesubstantially parallel with the table so that the doors F may properlyenter the openings, and gravity-Weights connected to said shanks attheir hinged ends to norm ally maintain said doors in the openings,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a table of the character described, the table A having a series ofpins projected there from and incased in sound-deadening material, aseries of circular openings, the said openings being of two diameters,trap-doors normally closing said openings, said trapdoors eachconsisting of a circular piece and an oblong piece, a block fixed to theunder side of the table and adjacent to the end of said oblong piece,and a hinge connection between said block and oblong piece whereby thesaid circular door may enter the opening in the table with its upperside flush with the upper side of said table, a gravity-weight on thehinged end of said oblong piece to main tain the said door normally insuch position, and means for deadening the sound of the door when itopens and closes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereto affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL A. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. F. McOANN, E. J. FARRELL.

